About Patrick Garvin

If you own a bike chances are you have modified it in some way, shape or form and if you haven’t, you will be shortly. Just the initial cost of chrome goodies, power adders, luggage or whatever else you deem necessary can hit your wallet pretty hard. But if you are going to a dealer to have the parts installed it’s likely the cost of upgrades has more than doubled once you receive your labor bill.

There is one sure fire way to lighten the load on your pocket book when it comes to tricking out your ride. Start wrenching; don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and … Continue Reading

I made my way down to the Museum about 10 a.m., where I learned there was a broken down bike on its way here and I was asked if I would help. I quickly said yes and headed up to the J&P shop to meet up with fellow J&P volunteer wrench Sean Salger. Shortly after, a sprinter van pulled up … Continue Reading

If you’re unfamiliar with the work of Michael Lichter, then welcome to biker land and congrats on the purchase of your first motorcycle. However, if you’re a fan of this famed photographer, then you’ve no doubt seen his amazing photos featured on the cover of practically every biker rag on the planet over the past three decades.

And that doesn’t even take into account his representation on countless Harley-Davidson publications. Why, his creative artistry has even graced the pages of our own “How J&P Changed the American Motorcycle Industry” book.

Along with his photography skills, Michael organizes a reoccurring exhibit at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis every year, featuring … Continue Reading

Round and black. That’s the extent of a lot of motorcyclists’ tire knowledge. Most people spend a majority of their time customizing their motorcycle by focusing on either making it look sharp by bolting on chrome or dropping large quantities of money on elaborate paint jobs. Or if you’re like some, you spend the majority of your hard-earned dollars on go-fast parts, strapping on the latest and greatest exhaust or air cleaner, or jamming oversized pistons and monster cams into the motor. All of those things are well and good, but they amount to nothing more than scrap metal without the right set of tires.

There are lots of reasons to attend the two-day J&P Cycles Open House Rally June 23 and 24, and top among them is the opportunity to mingle with 25,000 of your closest biker friends. In addition, this year’s event features free food, sponsored by Allstate, hundreds of vendors, great deals on parts and spectacular bike shows.

Did I mention the bike shows? Two of my personal all-time favorites will be on hand that weekend and they’re looking forward to coming here just as much as we’re looking forward to them being here. We’re talking about 10-time AMA Trials champ Geoff Aaron and revolutionary V-Twin stunters 1Wheel Revolution.

So for the past few years we have been hearing about a great rally called Torque Fest. And we’ve never been able to attend due to other events that were always conflicting. Well this year we were determined to go, so we loaded up and headed up to Maquoketa, Iowa.

The vibe at Torque Fest is all about pre-65 no billet traditional style hot rods and bikes. There is a real garage built feeling to the event that really shines through; there aren’t a lot of trailer queens rolling around.

If you participate in the show you get your chance to take laps on the dirt track, where you will … Continue Reading

When you think about motorcycle road racing, Harley-Davidsons generally aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But the folks at Vance & Hines — along with their XR1200 Series — have done an incredible job of changing that thought process over the past couple of years.

Rewind to 2008, when Harley introduced the XR1200 Sportster in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Magazines were quick to cover what are most likely the sportiest bikes ever produced by the motor company.

Small racing leagues began popping up in Spain and Italy with “fun” being they key word whenever someone found a need to explain the XR1200 series. The powers that … Continue Reading

Our tractor-trailer crew has just about enough time to wash the J&P rig, stock it to the bulkheads with new motorcycle gear and fill her up with diesel before hitting the road again. Rally season is underway, with the first scheduled stop at one of the largest biker events in the West — the 2012 Laughlin River Run in Laughlin, Nev., from April 25 through 29.

The massive 53-foot-long J&P trailer has been renovated in order to accommodate more vendors then ever before, all housed under a giant new awning. We’ve got vendors from the likes of Zox helmets and Rikki from Battisinis himself – all on hand to answer … Continue Reading

Disclaimer: This post is meant as satire and should not be construed as factual true.

It’s finally arrived — the day old school bikers and the HD faithful have feared for decades. The Motor Company has gone electric! Somebody check hell for snow.

That’s right folks, due to a tightening noose strung up by the EPA, along with overall pressure to foist a “greener” company onto the public, The Motor Company is rolling out its first-ever electric bike. And to add insult to injury, they’re debuting this debacle at Sturgis — the mother of all motorcycle rallies.

Most of the rumblings and ruminations over the past few years have been … Continue Reading

I’ve made no secret here on the J&P Blog about my opinion of “custom bike building” and how this segment of the industry has turned into a joke over the past few years. I have little use for super shiny themed “choppas,” built on reality television shows by folks with thin skin, getting their underwear twisted up when someone doesn’t care for their “design”.

And I’m no fan of these so-called production customs, which sounds like an oxymoron to me — with the emphasis on moron.

What I do have an incredible amount of love for is real ingenuity. I like functional bikes that are designed to ride. And I … Continue Reading